Photo Share: Puppy Dog Eyes

 

Puppy Dog Eyes. They've got 'em, and they're not afraid to use 'em. 

Roxy

Why?  Because THEY WORK. 

Stella

Wiley has absolutely perfected the head bow/puppy dog pleading eyes, and I am pretty much powerless against them. 

 

Davey and Gracie

And I know there are at least some occasions he makes them on purpose to manipulate me. In this picture, if you look carefully you can see the tennis ball in the gift bag. While I was rushing around to get ready for church on Christmas Eve, Wiley had just received a new tennis ball for Christmas from his Uncle Luke. He was determined to guilt me into taking a time-out to play with it. 

And this was Meko's face in the shelter. Obviously Jenna wasn't going to leave without her.

For those of you who are new to the Rescue Dog Blog, when we do our Photo Shares ALL pets are eligible.  If you have a turtle who you believe has mastered Puppy Dog Eyes, send his picture in and I'll share it. This is a way for everyone to give their pets a moment of attention. Although we are devoted to rescues, we know how nutty our readers are about all of their pets, and we want to give an opportunity for everyone to share.

Email your pictures to me at pabibliophile@gmail.com. Or click on the tab above that says "Photo Share" and it will give you a few other options on how to get your pictures to me. And while I have your attention. . . I need new stories! Hurry up! What are you waiting for?

Ok, so no excuses! If your pet has eyes I want a picture, and if he doesn't have eyes I don't care I still want a cute picture of your beautiful eyeless pet doing his best take on "but please please please love me."

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Dakota

Today we return to Gina and Schyler's house to revisit their beautiful pack.  We shared their baby, Moo Latte, a few weeks ago. Today we are featuring Dakota.  

Although Dakota is technically the middle furbaby, she was the first dog to rescue Gina's family when they intercepted her before her owners had a chance to surrender her at the Utah Animal Adoption Center. 

Dakota is a people pleaser, and learned her commands very quickly. Even though she does love to make her humans happy, she isn't too much of a cuddle bug. 

She will cuddle with her human brother, Derick, but otherwise she is mostly interested in snuggling with her sisters, Moo Latte and Bella. 

Despite being very obedient, especially when treats are involved, Dakota does have her naughty moments, most of which involve her eating habits.

 For example, she once ate about 10 pounds of cat food and had to spend the day at the vet's! She also loves paper (so does Wiley, see here), and has literally eaten Schyler's homework, along with many contraband straw wrappers, which might be her favorite treat ever. 

Mostly Dakota likes to have fun! She loves to run and play, especially fetch with Derick. 

She has an old shoe she carries around in her mouth, she likes to wrestle with her sisters, and she chases bugs too.  

Wow. Does Dakota sound like she lives a sweet life or what?

Rescue dogs must talk about Gina's and Schyler's house like it's summer time, all the time: the livin's easy. Thank you Gina and Schyler, and keep these good stories coming. Tell your shelter friends about the Rescue Dog Blog too; we'd love to hear from them. Email me at pabibliophile@gmail.com.

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The Minis, Part I: Tica

How far would you go to keep your pets in your life?  Today's story is the beginning of a to-be-continued tale of Dog Destiny. Yes, that's right. I'm naming the phenomenon.  

 

I talk all the time about how I believe our dogs are worked into our destinies. This story is about the Doggie Destiny of Tica and Vida, but for this post we'll mostly share Tica's pictures. I promise I'll get to Vida so don't you worry.

Kim and her boyfriend, Miles, had been planning a trip to Costa Rica for February of this year, 2013. In the meantime, Kim's 11 year old GSD, Mutombo, crossed the Rainbow Bridge in November.

The trip would now be a welcomed distraction, and so they embarked for Cloud Forest in Monteverde very ready for a getaway.

They stayed in a cabin on a farm belonging to Veronica and Alex, two hosts with very kind and gracious hearts and lots of dogs!

In fact, Alex and Veronica had "Dog People" Problems.  They had four dogs of their own, but a few months earlier, Alex had found two approximately 4-week-old puppies in the middle of the road.  

He brought them home, thinking they would nurse them along then find homes for them. Unfortunately, just  a short while later someone dropped off three puppies in a box, and now Veronica and Alex had their hands really full!

Of course, you won't be surprised when I tell you things got worse. The "Minis," which Veronica and Alex had begun calling the two smallest pups, were naughty! 

  

They were stealing and eating eggs on the farm, and since nearly everyone in Cloud Forest keeps chickens, the couple was beginning to genuinely worry about finding a home willing to take on "the Minis."

That's when Dog Destiny stepped in, and Kim and Miles arrived for their visit. The Minis were now about six months old.

 

Of course our story doesn't end here. What happened?  Kim and Miles moved to Monteverde to take care of the Minis of course. HAHA. BOL (BARK OUT LOUD). Just kidding.

But if you want to know what actually happened, you'll just have to stay tuned for Part II of our story on Tica and Vida, the Minis. You can also follow these adorable dogs and their mom (and some really cool jewelry she makes) on Instagram @kimpucca14.

In the meantime, we are running low on stories so it's time for you to get yours together and send it in. Also, spread the word about the blog so other people can share too! Email me at pabibliophile@gmail.com.

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Sunday's Grab-bag: A Different Kind of Adoption Story

 

I CANNOT DEAL WITH THE CUTENESS OF THIS. So many people have shared this story with me this week that I just couldn't keep it to myself.  Some of you may already know it, in fact. I contemplated making it my Feel-Good Friday story, but I thought it may be a nice thing for readers to see just as their weekend comes to a close and the dreaded Monday looms. 

Meet Girl and Girl. They are in the PAWS shelter in Anderson, South Carolina. One is a Shih Tzu of unknown age but believed to be at least five years old. The other is a one-month old kitten.

Animal control was called when people in a nearby business heard a dog yipping who seemed to be stuck in an embankment. As the officer, Michelle Smith, climbed down to free the dog, she was met with the sweetest surprise one could find in that environment. The dog had taken the kitten under her protection. She was even producing milk for the kitten, most likely due to the surge in hormones her body experienced when it saw the lost and needy baby. 

Sigh.  Awwwww.  Sigh. Sometimes the animal kingdom is so ruthless, and sometimes it is so superior to humankind. 

The shelter workers are calling them "Girl," for now, and hoping that the dog's owners will come forward and be willing to adopt the kitten as well. 

 

They are keeping them together in their own little room, where Mama picks up Baby Girl and carries her back to their bed when she strays too far away and Baby Girl sleeps on Mama's back.

For more information you can click on any of the pictures and they will take you back to the original source.  Let's just think about this one more time. Awwwwwww.  

What uplifting story do you have to share? Email me at pabibliophile@gmail.com.

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What did you miss? 7/21/13-7/27/13

We had an abbreviated week here on the Rescue Dog Blog, with our posts limited to Sunday, Thursday, and Friday. However, we still tried to deliver as many happy dog pictures and warm fuzzy feelings as possible. On Sunday, I went out on a limb and decided to share part of Wiley's rescue story.  What I wrote covers how, when, and why.  I have been waiting a long time to share his story because I couldn't do so without giving away a lot of my story, and that was harder to do than I thought it would be. I hope you'll take the time to read it.   After I returned from my literacy conference I shared the story of Middie. She is sweet and pretty and has a great name too!  It just sounds sooo British. lol.  Finally on Friday I shared the story of Jimena Hoyos, a Colombian actress who is beautiful on the inside and outside.

Many people have contacted me with words of support and encouragement since reading Wiley's story. I am deeply touched by how kind my readers are. Thank you so much. Now all I need is YOUR stories. Email me at pabibliophile@gmail.com.

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Feel-Good Friday: Everyone Can Help

 

Today's Feel-Good Friday is about a beautiful person I discovered via Instagram. Her name is Jimena Hoyos, and she is an actress from Colombia who is working to help the serious population of homeless dogs in that country.  Many people mistakenly believe that if they can't currently adopt a dog, there's very little they can do to help rescue pets. Maybe they'll donate to a shelter, but otherwise they feel their work is done until the time is right to adopt again. 

Jimena knows this isn't true. We all have different gifts, talents, and ideas. Jimena photographs these beautiful dogs, creates unique frames out of the materials around the dogs, and displays and sells them to raise money and awareness of the stray dog problem in Colombia. She currently has a display at D.O.G.Miami.

She hasn't stopped there either. She also created a dog food/water dispenser designed to provide a constant source of sustenance for these dogs. She has it outside of her restaurant, Carambola, and it feeds approximately 26 dogs. 

I highly recommend you follow Jimena on Instagram @jimenahoyos. You can read more about her organization Gozques here, and donate to her cause here. In addition, these pictures are all linked back to their original source, where you can also find some information about each dog.

Every one of us is uniquely gifted to help our favorite causes in some way. You can even help right here by sharing your story so we can raise awareness. If you've already shared, I'll bet you know other people who have rescued as well. Tell them about the blog. Share it on your Facebook. Spread the word that there are millions (yes, millions) of euthanized dogs and cats every year who would make wonderful pets!  Email me at pabibliophile@gmail.com.

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Midnight

 

Midnight is a senior dog. She is gray around her muzzle and can only go on short walks these days. But she still follows Jess around everywhere she goes, and Jess still considers her a best friend. 

She met Midnight, or Middie, in October of 2005. She had been putting off getting a dog until it was the "right time."  Finally she and her sister went to the Leigh Cats and Dogs Home, in Manchester, UK. 

 If I may get personal for a moment, I always think of Davy Jones of The Monkees when someone mentions Manchester. I am a big Monkee Maniac and I can't help but think of how my 11 year old self believed Manchester was a miraculous place for producing someone like Davy. lol.

Davy Jones and me, 1993

Anyyyywayyy, let's get back to the star of the show, Middie. Jess entered the shelter ready and willing to adopt any sort of dog. She didn't have a laundry list of qualifications; she just wanted to save a dog who needed saving.  

Middie got 3rd place in a "waggiest tail" contest!

She look at what felt like every dog several times over, but then her sister called to her from across the room to come check out this feral-looking, tall, skinny, black and white dog barking her face off at the front of her kennel.

However, when the kennel worker retrieved Middie, her behavior and body language changed drastically. Her head hung low as the worker brought her down the aisle. She walked among the kennels with her tail tucked and her ears back. That behavior only made Jess fall in love immediately. 

Jess said she learned that Middie, a 4 year old lab/border collie mix, had been raised by "hands that hurt her and took away her confidence."  But now Middie was in all new hands, and was heading for the life she deserved.

Middie's confidence grew when she felt Jess's unconditional love. Middie learned she wouldn't be punished for chewing a toy or for vomiting when she was car sick. 

 

Over the past seven years Middie and Jess have developed that bond that all dog lovers know and have felt. Jess is already sad knowing her time with Middie will have to end. 

I've mentioned before how we all enter into the contract knowing our pets will likely only be part of our life for a fraction of it. Jess's approach is to enjoy every minute of it, even the bad breath and the silliness. 

 

We're all wishing Jess and Middie as many happy and healthy days that God can spare. Thank you so much Jess for sharing Middie's rescue story!

Believe it or not, readers, we are running low on stories. We need you to share yours.  What are you waiting for? Email me at pabibliophile@gmail.com.

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